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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
His income is too small for him to support his / the /a family
I'd be happy if someone would answer my questions. Thanks in advance.
Q 1. Are the following 2 sentences the same in meaning?
A: His income is too small for him to support his family.
B: His income is too small for him to support the family.
I think in B "the family" means his family, so A and B are the same. Am I right?
Or is it possible "the family" is some other family whose support he is responsible for?
Q. 2 Concerning C -----
C: His income is too small for him to support a family.
Does "a family" In C mean an average family in his country?
Q 1. Are the following 2 sentences the same in meaning?
A: His income is too small for him to support his family.
B: His income is too small for him to support the family.
I think in B "the family" means his family, so A and B are the same. Am I right?
Or is it possible "the family" is some other family whose support he is responsible for?
Q. 2 Concerning C -----
C: His income is too small for him to support a family.
Does "a family" In C mean an average family in his country?
Top answer
This is my take: Normally, in such situations, context explains everything but saying "his family" is clear enough for us to understand which family we are talking about. "The family" means, a family which is mentioned before in the context so this family may be his ( with a high probabilty) or with the magic of the context, it may be another family. (Maybe he is helping a family) .
- This is my take: Normally, in such situations, context explains everything but saying "his family" is clear enough for us to understand which family we are talking about.
- "The family" means, a family which is mentioned before in the context so this family may be his ( with a high probabilty) or with the magic of the context, it may be another family.
- (Maybe he is helping a family) .
- As for "a family", it means an avarage family in the city or country.
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1 Answers
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This is my take:
Normally, in such situations, context explains everything but saying "his family" is clear enough for us to understand which family we are talking about. "The family" means, a family which is mentioned before in the context so this family may be his ( with a high probabilty) or with the magic of the context, it may be another family.
Normally, in such situations, context explains everything but saying "his family" is clear enough for us to understand which family we are talking about. "The family" means, a family which is mentioned before in the context so this family may be his ( with a high probabilty) or with the magic of the context, it may be another family.
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